Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR150
2008-03-05 10:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
MALAYSIA QUESTIONS IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 1803,
how-toVZCZCXYZ2924 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKL #0150 0651015 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 051015Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0624 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1059 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0118 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000150
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR ISN/RA, IO/T AND EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2018
TAGS: PARM KNNP MNUC IR MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA QUESTIONS IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 1803,
CONCERNED OVER PRESSURE ON IAEA
REF: STATE 21770 - UNSCR 1803
Classified By: POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND
D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000150
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR ISN/RA, IO/T AND EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2018
TAGS: PARM KNNP MNUC IR MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA QUESTIONS IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 1803,
CONCERNED OVER PRESSURE ON IAEA
REF: STATE 21770 - UNSCR 1803
Classified By: POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND
D).
1. (C) The Malaysian Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary for
Disarmament and Nonproliferation Bala Chandran Tharman
stated, in reaction to reftel demarche presented by polchief
March 5, that Malaysia of course would respect UN Security
Council Resolution 1803 on Iran's nuclear program just as
Malaysia adheres to all UNSC resolutions. Bala Chandran,
however, commented that the wording of the resolution was too
vague and open to wide interpretation such that the Malaysian
government would not know how to implement the resolution in
practical terms. Malaysian authorities, for example, would
not have a clear basis for "exercising vigilance." Polchief
noted that the international community would look for
Malaysia's good faith efforts in enforcing UNSCR 1803,
suggested that Malaysia already had established procedures
for controlling the entry of foreign nationals, and mentioned
the importance of Malaysia's development of an export control
regime.
2. (C) Bala Chandran said Malaysia had concerns over undue
political pressure from "certain parties" on the IAEA. The
UNSC must give IAEA enough space to work and maintain its
independence. Piece-meal delivery of questions and diagrams
to IAEA for follow up with Iran was "not fair." The
perceived pressure on the IAEA would affect the confidence of
the international community in the related UNSC resolutions
and impact the willingness of UN members to take action on
these resolutions, Bala Chandran argued.
3. (C) Comment: To Post's knowledge, Malaysia has not
submitted any implementation reports to the UN related to
UNSCRs 1737 and 1747, and Bala Chandran admitted as much in a
meeting with polchief one month ago citing his office's
workload as the excuse for the delay. Malaysia as a matter
of foreign policy opposes the use of sanctions. Malaysia
also is actively pursuing expanded economic ties with Iran.
For these reasons among others, including public sympathy for
Teheran in its perceived standoff with the West, there will
be no enthusiasm in the Malaysian government for tightened
Iran sanctions.
KEITH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR ISN/RA, IO/T AND EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2018
TAGS: PARM KNNP MNUC IR MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA QUESTIONS IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 1803,
CONCERNED OVER PRESSURE ON IAEA
REF: STATE 21770 - UNSCR 1803
Classified By: POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND
D).
1. (C) The Malaysian Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary for
Disarmament and Nonproliferation Bala Chandran Tharman
stated, in reaction to reftel demarche presented by polchief
March 5, that Malaysia of course would respect UN Security
Council Resolution 1803 on Iran's nuclear program just as
Malaysia adheres to all UNSC resolutions. Bala Chandran,
however, commented that the wording of the resolution was too
vague and open to wide interpretation such that the Malaysian
government would not know how to implement the resolution in
practical terms. Malaysian authorities, for example, would
not have a clear basis for "exercising vigilance." Polchief
noted that the international community would look for
Malaysia's good faith efforts in enforcing UNSCR 1803,
suggested that Malaysia already had established procedures
for controlling the entry of foreign nationals, and mentioned
the importance of Malaysia's development of an export control
regime.
2. (C) Bala Chandran said Malaysia had concerns over undue
political pressure from "certain parties" on the IAEA. The
UNSC must give IAEA enough space to work and maintain its
independence. Piece-meal delivery of questions and diagrams
to IAEA for follow up with Iran was "not fair." The
perceived pressure on the IAEA would affect the confidence of
the international community in the related UNSC resolutions
and impact the willingness of UN members to take action on
these resolutions, Bala Chandran argued.
3. (C) Comment: To Post's knowledge, Malaysia has not
submitted any implementation reports to the UN related to
UNSCRs 1737 and 1747, and Bala Chandran admitted as much in a
meeting with polchief one month ago citing his office's
workload as the excuse for the delay. Malaysia as a matter
of foreign policy opposes the use of sanctions. Malaysia
also is actively pursuing expanded economic ties with Iran.
For these reasons among others, including public sympathy for
Teheran in its perceived standoff with the West, there will
be no enthusiasm in the Malaysian government for tightened
Iran sanctions.
KEITH